When We Meet Again

“Of course. Yeah sure I’d love to have a picnic with you at Central Park. Hey can we look for the Central Perk and go have coffee while we’re there?” she joked. Dean looked quizzically at her, not getting the joke. Meaghan began to sing;

So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A.
It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear
When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, but

I’ll be there for you 
When the rain starts to pour 
I’ll be there for you 
Like I’ve been there before 
I’ll be there for you 
Cause you’re there for me too

You’re still in bed at ten and work began at eight 
You’ve burned your breakfast, so far things are going great 
Your mother warned you there’d be days like these 
But she didn’t tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees and

I’ll be there for you 
When the rain starts to pour 
I’ll be there for you 
Like I’ve been there before 
I’ll be there for you 
Cause you’re there for me too 

She drew out the last word looking him in the eye as she said it. Dean looked completely bemused.

“From Friends…you know the coffee shop where they all used to meet?” Meaghan clarified since Dean still looked lost. “You rich folk still watched Friends right?”

“Of course I did,” Dean said a tad sharply. “I had a serious thing for Lisa Kudrow’s character. Phoebe was everything I wanted in a woman,” he said nostalgically.

“That’s so wonderful. You’ve wandered rather far from your comfort zone don’t you think?” she asked.

Dean studied her, “I don’t think so. You have street smarts, a heart of gold, sense of humor, value your friends…you’re practically twins.”

“Ha. Except you know for the blue eyes and blonde hair,” Meaghan said.

Dean waved a hand in dismissal, “Superficialities,” he stated airily.

Meaghan laughed but didn’t bother to argue with that.

“You also have a great voice by the way. Is that a ‘black’ thing?”

“Yes,” Meaghan said deadpan.

*****

They were walking in the park hand in hand, watching the nannies with the babies sunning themselves. It was a mild day for November and the sun was visible so people were taking advantage of it, enjoying the outdoors. Dean swung her arm back and forth, carrying the food basket that Carmen had been kind enough to make up, in his other hand.

“Hey Dean, isn’t there someone you have to check in with? I haven’t seen you take any phone calls today.”

“That’s because I switched it off,” Dean said.

“What? Really? I thought yuppies never had their phones off.”

“You know technically, you’re the yuppie here. I’m more of the ruling class.”

“I’m the yuppie? How do you figure?”

“You’re the one working crazy hours as a consummate professional to earn your living. My living is guaranteed whether I’m working or not.”

“Rub it in why don’t you?” Meaghan grumbled sotto voce and Dean laughed.

“Don’t worry, one day when the revolution finally comes around, we shall all be guillotined and yuppies will take over the world.”

“I don’t know about that. We might be classified as nobles rather than citizenry. We being these ‘yuppies’ you speak of though I don’t agree that I’m one of them.”

“Why not?” Dean inquired looking down at her with a smile in his eyes.

“Because…for one thing, I work in the ghetto. For another, my sole reason for living isn’t the acquisition of wealth.”

“Well that’s reassuring,” Dean teased. Meaghan glared at him.

“Don’t even joke about that. It is actually not funny to be thought of as a gold digger.”

“No one thinks of you as-“ Dean began before Meaghan smartly cut him off.

“Kindly let’s not tell each other unnecessary lies,” she said.

Dean was quiet for a bit, thinking about that statement, “What would you call a necessary lie?” he asked.

It was Meaghan’s turn to think. “Well for example, not telling your father about us because you fear it’s bad for his health would be a necessary lie.”

“Fair enough,” Dean agreed. “But when does that stop being fair to you?”

“It stops being fair to me if you’re only doing it because you don’t want to rock the boat or you don’t think I’m important enough to you to let people know that I’m a part of your life.”

“Wow. I miss the days when things were cut and dried,” Dean said scanning the surroundings for a good picnic spot.

“You’re telling me,” Meaghan agreed.

Dean looked down at her, studying her with his head tilted to the side as if he could discern her secrets that way. “I’m sorry about Samantha and what she’s trying to do. I promise to defend you this time with my peers and not just let her run amok,” he said.

“I don’t like that she’s saying these untrue things about me; but I also don’t want to fight with her. I get that she’s hurt and she’s lashing out or whatever; and maybe she has the right to that. You were her boyfriend for a really long time after all. I just…there’s a line. And if she crosses it…”

“I know,” Dean said. “And this isn’t your problem. It’s my problem. I created it.”

“Strictly speaking, breaking up with someone isn’t creating a problem.”

“Breaking up with someone because you think you’re in love with someone else is.”

Meaghan was silent after that exchange, digesting what Dean had just said. She really didn’t know what to make of it. How seriously to take it.

“This is a nice spot,” Dean said stopping under a maple tree. Meaghan looked up into the tree, scouting for any possible creepy crawlies that might drop unexpectedly down on her from above but saw nothing.

“Yeah okay, this is a good spot,” she said reaching for the blanket that lay atop the basket. She spread it out and Dean sat down, unpacking the food as he did so. There was a bowl of fried chicken with cheese and bread as well as a bottle of wine and brownies for dessert. Meaghan saw that Carmen had also packed a flask of coffee to eat with the brownies.

“Your housekeeper really knows how to pack for a picnic,” she commented.

Dean studied the food and nodded his agreement. He picked up a paper plate and placed food on it, passing it to her before filling his own plate.

“This is a good day,” he said as he tucked in, his shoulder touching hers as they sat cross legged on the rug.

“Yes. It is. I feel like I should have brought a classic novel to read to you after we eat though,” Meaghan said grinning at him.

“Aww, next time,” Dean said.

“Yes. Next time,” Meaghan agreed.

The end.